He wrote many childrens books, like bark, the dog with no tail, and many others. The book was designed by paul bacon, who passed away in june 2016 at the age of 91. Feiffer s 1965 essay is widely regarded as one of the earliest critical works on comic books. The great comic book heroes as a nonfiction author, feiffer is most revered in comics circles for his standard the great comic book heroes bonanza books, dial press, 1965, which he wrote in commission of e. In 1965, feiffer wrote what is arguably the first critical history of the comic book superheroes of the late 1930s and early 1940s, including plastic man, batman, superman, the. The definitive book on the age of the great action heroes, compiled, introduced and annotated by the inimitable jules feiffer. Only a couple of years earlier feiffer had written his study, the great comic book heroes dial press, 1965. He knew at once that he wanted to be a comic book artist. The illustrations are nicely reproduced, with several complete stories some origin stories, but for the most part the selections are unremarkable. I first encountered will or bill, as the old comics guys called him eisners spirit comics when i got a copy of jules feiffers the great comic book heroes. Affable and friendly, feiffer has a wiseguy attitude about him, leveled off with a genuine modesty and friendliness. Great book comic the press heroes dial feiffer jules by the the by jules great heroes dial book feiffer the comic press. This homage by feiffer to the great comic book heroes has become almost legendary since its first appearance in 1965, but it is mainly feiffers essays on the comic books that distinguishes it.
The great comic book heroes the golden age of comic books. The introduction itself is worth the price of admission for its interesting and revealing look at feiffers views of the great superheroes, told in the. An introductory page with just the book title on it, used to separate the introduction from the reprints. Jules feiffer, born january 26, 1929, new york, new york, u. Its an enjoyable and nostalgic, if brief, ride, and worthwhile if the price is right. He remained a fan, despite his later success as a writer. A hardcover book he wrote in 1966 the great comic book heroes, is the first tome on comic book history, combining feiffers reminisces of the golden age of comics with reprints of pivotal stories from the 1930s and 40s. Gary groth the editorial cartoonist examines the american art form which produced comic book heroes such as batman, superman, and captain marvel in the nineteenthirties and forties. Apr, 2003 the great comic book heroes is widely acknowledged to be the first book to analyze the juvenile medium of superhero comics in a critical manner, but without denying the iconic hold such works have over readers of all ages. Pages can include considerable notesin pen or highlighterbut the notes cannot obscure the text.
In 1965, jules feiffer published the first serious examination of superhero comic books he was in an excellent position to do so. The great comic book heroes by jules feiffer goodreads. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers. Out of print for over 30 years, feiffer discusses the role that the patriotic superhero played during world war ii in.
The great comic book heroes, the origins and early adventures of the classic superheoes of the comic books. For many who purchased the book or studied a library copy, the great comic book heroes is fondly remembered for providing a first exposure to a battery of artists and. This is a great interview, and andy and derek are grateful for the time. The great comicbook heroes compiled, introduced and. Most of them, as i remember, were the rhymed adventures of bugpeople in a place called bugville. Great comic book heroes great comic book heroes by feiffer. It had an early superman story by his creators, siegel and shuster. Jules ralph feiffer born january 26, 1929 1 2 is an american cartoonist and author, who was considered the most widely read satirist in the country. The great comic book of heroes by jules feiffer librarything.
Jules feiffers historic essay, available again in a compact and affordable size. In 1979 feiffer created his first graphic novel, tantrum. May 25, 20 it was the great comic book heroes edited by jules feiffer. Fantagraphics is proud to publish jules feiffers long. Taken on their own terms, comics deliver exactly w. The book is slender and offers little text by feiffer, but reprints in color early stories of the original superheroes. The great comic book heroes, by jules feiffer fonts in use an independent archive of typography. Simply writing the word meanwhile transports him to the deck of a pirate ship, to the actionpacked old west and to outer space. Compiled, introduced and annotated by jules feiffer. The great comic book heroes by jules feiffer paperback, 80 pages list price. The great comic book heroes 1965, which was commissioned by e. Feiffer delivers a fantastic and laughinducing tale in this comic book comealive adventure. The great comic book heroes by jules feiffer alibris.
In 1965, bonanza books released the great comic book heroes, a 192page book of reprinted 1940s comic book stories compiled, introduced and annotated by jules feiffer. In this expanded intro and afterword to jules feiffers the great comic book heroes, he explains how the art and business of comic books has. Great comic book heroes great comic book heroes by feiffer, jules. Find the great comic book heroes by feiffer, jules at biblio. In 1965, feiffer wrote what is arguably the first critical history of the comic book superheroes of the late 30s and early 40s, including plastic man, batman, superman, the spirit, and others. Here he celebrates the junk he grew up reading on the eve of world war two when the medium was first discovering itself and no one involved was thinking. This stunning book, which i got for christmas in 1966, was a chance for a 1960s kid to see for the first time what comic books had been like in. Feiffer the collected works volumes 123 paperback book lot feiffer the collected. This copy of the great comic book heroes is the 1965 big hardcover book by jules feiffer, published by the dial press. Feiffer wrote two traditional novels, harry the rat with women and ackroyd. Quentin tarantino cribbed some of his meditations on superman in kill bill vol.
Jules feiffers the great comic book heroes is a loving appreciation of the golden age of hero comics. At 85, jules feiffer finally gives us a graphic novel. The great comic book heroes was a distillation of the dawn of the superhero comics in the early 1940s. Comic books, world war ii, the depression, and i all got going at roughly the same time. Taken on their own terms, comics deliver exactly what. Thoroughly distressed at her predicament, the young protagonist searches and searches, but is unable to locate her beloved teddy bear. Jules feiffer s historic essay, available again in a compact and affordable size.
The great comic book heroes, by jules feiffer fonts in use. Out of print for over 30 years, feiffer s book discusses the role that the patriotic superhero played during world war ii. As feiffer would recall in the great comic book heroes. Great comic book heroes by feiffer jules for sale online ebay. The great comic book heroes by jules feiffer, paperback. Fantagraphics is proud to publish jules feiffer s long outofprint and seminal essay of comics criticism, the great comic book heroes, in a compact and affordable size. Great comic book heroes by feiffer jules for sale online. Thoroughly distressed at her predicament, the young protagonist searches and searches, but is. The great comic book heroes, the origins and early adventures of the classic superheoes of the comic books, in glorious color by jules feiffer. He wrote the animated short munro, which won an academy award for best animated short film in 1961. Fantagraphics is proud to publish jules feiffers long outofprint and seminal essay of comics criticism, the great comic book heroes, in a compact and affordable size. Great comic book heroes 1965 feiffer batman wonder woman superman capt america. In 1965, feiffer wrote what is arguably the first critical history of the comic book superheroes of the late 1930s and early 1940s, including plastic man, batman, superman, the spirit and others. His books for children include the man in the ceiling, a barrel of laughs, a vale of tears, i lost my bear, bark, george, and meanwhile feiffers first collection of cartoons, sick, sick, sick 1958, was followed by passionella, and other.
The verbal elements usually took the form of monologues in which the speaker exposed his own insecurities. Apr, 2003 jules feiffer s the great comic book heroes is a loving appreciation of the golden age of hero comics. In 1965, feiffer wrote what is arguably the first critical history of the comic book superheroes of the late 30s and early 40s, including plastic man. In the book, feiffer writes about the unique the place of comics in the space between high and low art and the power which this space offers both the creator and reader. This stunning book, which i got for christmas in 1966, was a chance for a 1960s kid to see for the first time what comic books had been like in the 1940s. Doctorow at dial press, was one of the first major studies of superheroes. In feiffers case this piece doesnt just grow out the obvious dig about a grown man and his close relationship with his younger ward. It was the great comic book heroes edited by jules feiffer. Feiffer delivers a fantastic and laughinducing tale in this comicbookcomealive adventure.
The books for children like the cartoons seem to start out as most of what i do with an opening sentence the way improvisational actors do. Jul 03, 2008 the great comic book heroes by jules feiffer paperback, 80 pages list price. An interview with jules feiffer comics alternative. Jules feiffer has won a number of prizes for his cartoons, plays, and screenplays, including the pulitzer prize for editorial cartooning. Cartoonist jules feiffer born january 26, 1929 put together this homage to the comic books of his youth in 1965. Buy the great comic book heroes by jules feiffer online at alibris. This homage by feiffer to the great comic book heroes has become almost legendary since its first appearance in 1965, but it is mainly feiffer s essays on the comic books that distinguishes it. For many who purchased the book or studied a library copy, the great comic book heroes is fondly remembered for providing a first exposure to a battery of artists and cartoonists from joe shuster to bob kane to will. The hero of the story attempts to escape his mothers nagging about chores by writing himself into a comic book. The great comic book heroes is widely acknowledged to be the first book to analyze the juvenile medium of superhero comics in a critical manner, but without denying the iconic hold such works have over readers of all ages.
Where something comes out of your mouth except its not out of your mouth because its written down. Fantagraphics is proud to publish jules feiffers long outofprint and seminal essay of comics criticism, the great comic book heroes, in a compact and. Between 1945 and 1950, i read quite a few comic books to our thenunlettered son. Along the way they discuss tantrum a novelinpictures, not a graphic novel the impetus behind the classic the great comic book heroes, his experiences writing for film and the theater, and his relationship with will eisner and his time on the spirit. Feiffer ends his fabulous 1965 essay on comic book history with an argument that comics are junk, but that junk is good, even necessary. When jules feiffer, author of the great comic book heroes, was 8 or 9 years old in the late 1930s, comic books were in their infancy. Great comic book heroes 1965 hc w dj by jules feiffer. For many who purchased the book or studied a library copy, the great comic book heroes is fondly remembered for providing a first exposure to a battery of artists and cartoonists from joe shuster to bob kane to will eisner. Jules feiffer jz holden as you might expect, jules feiffer, 85, has a long, impressive resume, starting from his apprenticeship, from age 16, with comic industry legend will eisner. Feiffer had been a child when superman and batman made their debuts, and as a young man he had worked in the business. With great comic insight, feiffer captures the high drama that ensues when a child misplaces a beloved possession, commented lauren adams in the horn book magazine. See more ideas about illustration, the phantom tollbooth and tango art.
Pages can include limited notes and highlighting, and the copy can include previous owner inscriptions. The great comic book heroes by jules feiffer, author. The great comic book heroes1965 jules feiffer hardcover book w dust jacket hi, im karen. Oct 18, 2012 i first encountered will or bill, as the old comics guys called him eisners spirit comics when i got a copy of jules feiffers the great comic book heroes. The great comic book heroes, the origins and early adventures. Theres an opening like and often you dont know where that line comes from. The great comic book heroes, the origins and early adventures of the classic superheoes of the comic books, in glorious color hardcover january 1, 1965 by jules feiffer author visit amazons jules feiffer page. August 21, 2014 in his first graphic novel, jules feiffer, 85, has returned to the seedy comic strips, hard boiled novels and b movies of his youth. He designed his own strips, drew the characters and wrote the dialogue. And this being feiffer, it is at once funny, serious, sentimental, snarky, and all too on target. Jules feiffer, american cartoonist and writer who became famous for his feiffer, a satirical comic strip notable for its emphasis on very literate captions. Fantagraphics is proud to publish jules feiffer s long outofprint and seminal essay of comics criticism, the great comic book heroes, in a compact and affordable size in 1965, feiffer wrote what is arguably the first critical history of the comic book superheroes of the late 1930s and early 1940s, including plastic man, batman, superman, the spirit and othe. In 1965, he published the nonfiction book the great comic book heroes. The verbal elements usually took the form of monologues in which the speaker sometimes pathetic, sometimes pompous exposed his own insecurities.
The work was one of the first academic studies of comics, more specifically superhero comics. Find all the books, read about the author, and more. The great comic book heroes, the origins and early adventures of the classic superheoes of the comic books, in glorious color jules feiffer on. Great comic book heroes by feiffer, jules a copy that has been read, but remains in clean condition. By 1993 he began writing and illustrating books aimed at young readers, with several of them winning awards. Feiffer never saw the film and says he had no idea his work had been used. I swiped ideas diligently from the swipers, drew sixtyfour pages in two days, sometimes one day, stapled the product together, and took it out on the street where kids my age sat behind orange crates selling and trading comic books. The great comic book heroes by jules feiffer the dial press the great comic. The great comic book heroes is widely acknowledged to be the first book to analyze the juvenile medium of superhero comics in a critical manner, but without denying the iconic.
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